Sports stats

WHL Tri-City Americans

Americans, Kadlec Regional Medical Center Launch 'Be The Match' Drive and Fundraiser

November 23, 2010 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Tri-City Americans News Release


KENNEWICK, WA - The Tri-City Americans, in partnership with Kadlec Regional Medical Center, Bergstrom Aircraft, Northwest Marine and Sport, Atomic Screenprinting & Embroidery and Team In Training (TNT), are launching a ‘Go Purple on Black Friday' campaign to raise funds and awareness for the local chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS).

The Mid-Columbia chapter of TNT will be holding a silent auction on the concourse of the Toyota Center at the Americans' home game on Friday, November 26 when they host the Kootenay Ice. The silent auction will feature great Americans and LLS-branded items, including two LLS Americans Reebok Edge jerseys autographed by the entire 2010-11 team. As well, fans can purchase purple LLS Night T-shirts for a suggested donation of only $5 dollars or purchase a paper airplane for just $1 and participate in the Bergstrom Aircraft Paper Airplane Toss, presented by Northwest Marine and Sport, for a chance to win round trip airfare for two to Las Vegas on Allegiant Air.

In addition to all the fundraising activities on the concourse, the Americans and Inland Northwest Blood Center (INBC), who holds the local chapter of the National Marrow Donor Program, will be hosting a ‘Be The Match' Marrow Registration Drive throughout the day. A process that normally costs upwards of $100, fans will have the chance to register to be a marrow donor for free, thanks to the support of the Wal-Mart Foundation. It is believed to be the first of its kind in the Western Hockey League.

More about the marrow registration drive:

- The drive will be held at the Toyota Center, starting at noon on Friday, November 26 and will run through the end of the second period or until all swab kits have been used.

- All potential donors are required to fill out a donor consent registration form

o Fans are encouraged to pick up a copy of the registration form in advance of Friday's event in order to serve the most amount of donors. The packet can be found in the Americans' office or online at amshockey.com. Packets will also be available at the registration tables on the Toyota Center concourse on Friday.

- Once INBC staff receives the form, the sign up process consists of four cheek swabs. This process takes approximately three to five minutes.

To be a member of the registry, all you need is to:

- Be between the ages of 18 and 60

- Be willing to donate to any patient in need

- Be in overall good general health

- Keep your contact information current with the INBC``

During Friday's game, the Americans will also hold a ceremonial puck drop featuring Alicia Foss, a 28-year-old Kennewick woman who is recovering from a double lung transplant after battling leukemia as a baby. In addition to Foss, the INBC will have several local residents attending the game who have benefitted from the Be The Match registry. For a full list of the night's events and details, visit the Americans' website at www.amshockey.com/page/go-purple

"On Friday, we will have a number of patients who are alive today because of a stranger who joined the registry," said Cristina Klatovsky, organizer for the Tri-Cities/Yakima Marrow Program for INBC. "There are 14 million volunteer donors on the registry, and we still have patients who cannot find their match, the person who can make their lifesaving transplant possible. This registration drive brings hope to all of them that their match is among those that register on Friday. Only 1 of every 3 patients in search will find a compatible donor on the registry. We can only change those odds with more registered donors and we encourage everyone to take the first step by joining the registry."

"The money raised on the 26th will help many Eastern Washington residents battling blood cancers by providing funding to research and patient aid programs," explained Aja Albiar, Eastern & Central Washington Team Manager for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. "We are thrilled to be partnering with the Tri-City Americans and their amazing fans to help find a cure for blood cancers. We know that, together, we can raise thousands of life-saving dollars."

"Anyone that has witnessed this disease first hand knows how brutal it can be, not just on the patient, but also on their family and friends," expressed Dan Mulhausen, Director of Marketing, Media Relations and Game Operations for the Tri-City Americans who will register to be a donor in the Be The Match registry at the event. "The Tri-City fan base never ceases to amaze us with their generosity and I know that, on Friday, we will see them step up again with another selfless act of charity for those less fortunate."

Friday night's game is proudly presented by Kadlec Regional Medical Center, Bergstrom Aircraft, Northwest Marine and Sport, Atomic Screenprinting & Embroidery, URock 95.3 FM, KNDU-TV and the Tri-City Herald. Game time is 7:05 p.m. at the Toyota Center. Tickets for all Americans games can be purchased through all Ticketmaster outlets, including all Fred Meyer outlets, the Toyota Center box office, or online at ticketmaster.com.

About Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

How serious is blood cancer? Every four minutes, someone in the United States learns that he or she has leukemia, Hodgkin or non-Hodgkin lymphoma or myeloma. Every ten minutes, someone dies of a blood cancer.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education and patient services. LLS's mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Since the first funding in 1954, LLS has awarded more than $600 million in research funding.

About T.E.A.M. In Training

Team In Training (TNT), The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) leading endurance sports charity training program, has reached a remarkable milestone of raising over $1 billon to support blood cancer research and patient services. Since its inception in 1988, when a team of 38 runners trained together for the New York City Marathon and raised $320,000, TNT has prepared more than 440,000 people -- approximately 40,000 participants annually -- to achieve their dream of completing a marathon, half marathon, triathlon, 100-mile (century) bicycle ride or hike adventure. The enormous success of this program has helped make possible advances in blood cancer therapies and treatments that have prolonged and enhanced the lives of hundreds of thousands of patients.

In exchange for training and support, you help raise money towards cures for blood cancers like leukemia -- the No. 1 disease killer of children -- lymphoma and myeloma. For more information on how you can join the Eastern Washington Team, visit www.teamintraining.org/wa.

Check out the Tri-City Americans Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from November 23, 2010


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Tri-City Americans Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central